Govt flags rain deficit; 315 districts face Kharif risk
The delayed monsoon in India has rung alarm bells, forcing the Government to go into firefighting mode. Faced with a 43 per cent rain deficit so far, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan on Tuesday admitted it will adversely impact the sowing of kharif crops and said the Government is making preparations to mitigate the looming challenge in 315 districts identified as most vulnerable to crop damage.
States have been asked to use water judiciously and to clean ponds, streams, farm ponds and check dams under the VB-GRAM G (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin) programme to preserve water for irrigation contingencies.
The ministry has mapped 315 districts across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha – as likely to receive below-normal rainfall. Of these, 111 districts – including 20 in Maharashtra – have been classified as “most vulnerable” owing to irrigation cover of less than 25 per cent. Another 76 districts with 25–50 per cent irrigation fall in the “medium vulnerable” category, while 128 districts with adequate dam and irrigation infrastructure are tagged “least vulnerable.” A majority of these districts are located across 12 states—Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Detailed discussions were held with Agriculture Ministers and District Collectors of these states, and they were urged to expedite preparedness at the local level. India received 60 mm rainfall as against the normal of 120 mm between June 1 and June 23. Several key agricultural states have recorded sharp deficit of rainfall, raising concerns over the kharif crops plantation, which relies heavily on monsoon rains. More than half of India’s kharif arable land is rain-fed. Among the worst-affected states, Maharashtra and Gujarat have reported rainfall deficit around 70 to 74 percent so far.
Sharing details, Chouhan said weak monsoon conditions were likely to persist until July 2, leaving little time for farmers to plant the kharif (summer) crop. As of June 22, sowing of kharif crops covered less than 10 per cent of total sown area - marginally higher than the 11.79 million hectare recorded in the year-ago period, at 11.99 million hectare - with most crops tracking ahead except soyabean. “Overall, there is a 43 per cent deficit in monsoon rains. IMD forecasts that the weak monsoon is likely to continue till July 2. It means, kharif crops could be impacted,” Chouhan told reporters after the review meeting on monsoon progress.
“There is a gap in rainfall. We need to suggest to farmers to go for alternative crops. We will not let farm fields remain empty,” the minister said. Seed and fertiliser availability is adequate for the season, he added. Reservoir levels are currently above last year's position, though declining. The ministry has called for extensive enrolment under crop insurance schemes and Kisan Credit Cards in the identified states.
The 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have been asked to step up farmer outreach, with timely advisories to be disseminated via SMS, WhatsApp, call centres, and other media. On production estimates, Chouhan said the forecasts are based on normal conditions but affirmed, “We will ensure production does not fall” he added.
